New Beer Sunday (Week 749)

Sorry to hear about your hip, Dave. I hope you're back to trekking through your beloved woods very soon!

 

It has been a little bit since I posted in a Sunday thread. Nice to be back.

Morning and early afternoon are my favorite times for a brew, and I do love having one with breakfast. If it weren’t for a busy schedule, I’d love to have some more often. In terms of glassware, I have few, but tulips are my favorite, especially for IPAs and wild ales, which are the two of my go-to styles. That said, I still try to rotate through all my glassware, at least periodically.



First up is Juicinomics by Barebottle out of SF. Barebottle generally makes decent New England IPAs, in my opinion, but they are severely overpriced. This bottle, for example, cost me $9. If I didn’t feel like I was getting ripped off, I’d probably buy the Barebottle stuff more often. I do, however, appreciate their willingness to disclose the whole recipe on the label.



L: The beer pours with a light orange body that is quite murky. The head formation is strong, and what you see in my photo came as a result of the relatively non-aggressive pour. Retention is relatively typical, as is the lacing.

S: This beer is pretty aromatic, even in style, and notes of citrus and pine hit you immediately after popping the cap off. Pine wanes fairly quickly after pouring, and there is a hint of yeast in the smell. Minimal to no alcohol on the nose, which I think is a definite plus for 9+% DIPA.

T: This beer is primarily hopped with Citra, and it shows up in all of the typical Citra flavors: orange, mango, melon, etc. There’s a certain amount of bitterness on the back end. The taste is not blowing me away by any means, but there isn’t much wrong with it either.

F: The body on this beer is medium in weight and mouthfeel. The carbonation is medium-low, about typical for the style. Slight alcohol warming as the beer sits in the glass.

O: This is a well-executed heavy NE DIPA, and it does well enough in all the standard BA categories. I’m glad to have tried. However, given the price, I hardly see myself buying a second bottle.

4.25 | 4.25 | 4 | 4 | 4 --> 4.08 BA Rating

 

I may do a couple posts in this thread today, as long as Craig lets me. I’m going through the last of some beers that I got about a month ago so I can get into newer stuff, and this is one of the better ones from last month’s purchases.

Two things to mention off the bat:

1) Riverlands is a new brewery north of me in St. Charles. Once the Wahlburgers restaurant opens up there, maybe I can convince the Mrs to make a brewery stop as well.

2) this is my favorite new glass. I love Iron & Glass because there’s always something good on tap, they have a great selection of to go stuff, and Colt and Eric are beer savvy nice guys. My last glass I got there broke, and when I was told this one holds a full sixteen ounce can, it was an easy sale.

Oh, and one of the times I’ll drink beer is when I’m watching professional wrestling. Today is last night’s AEW Fyter Fest. Bleacher Report is streaming it free. Take that, WWE!



Definitely has the “hazy” in hazy double IPA down. Looks like a dark pineapple juice. Minimal head and lacing. It seems like it’s now a world of “how cloudy can you make your IPA?” and these guys jumped right in. A: 4.25

Like a lot of this style, smell is the best category. Galaxy and Citra hops bring it big time here. Huge citrus notes of orange and pineapple with a hint of bitterness. Excellent hop profile from two of my favorites. S: 4.75

Unfortunately like a lot of this style, the taste doesn’t live up to the promise of the smell. It’s just not that strong. Nicest way to describe it is subtle, another way to describe it is underwhelming. I know it’s got a little age on it, but I doubt it’s faded that much. Plenty of juicy citrus, mildly bitter, but really hoped for more based on the smell. T: 4.25

Light body for a double IPA. Mouth watering, good alcohol presence, and an easy sipper, but again, it just seems like it’s a bit underwhelming. F: 4.25

Total: 4.25. Overall: 4.37. It’s a very good beer, and maybe there’s some aging that brought it down, but I think it’s missing just a little bit something that would make it awesome. If I see it again, I’ll definitely buy it. Considering how new they are, they can only go up.

New Pete Yorn, a guy I’ve been a fan of the entire millennium.

 

A cautionary tale. When I first joined BA I used to be amused by all the posters who posted beer photos in "appropriate glassware". After all, I bought perfectly good beer glasses at Crate & Barrel. Then, it started. Slowly and insidiously. Of course, I had to have glasses from Carton and Kane . . . and Magnify . . . and Rushing Duck and Industrial Arts. Czig Meister is nearby so, why not. Then, I started trading and have received glasses from cool breweries like 3 Floyds, Toppling Goliath, and Narrow Gauge that impressed my beer drinking buddies. Next, I started noticing old glasses in flea markets that I could buy for a buck or two, so why not? Then, my family and friends started giving me glasses as gifts. And now with every new brewery that opens, I automatically buy a glass. When we moved last year, I made sure I had more cabinet area for glassware than I used to. In sum, I'm now the very guy I used to snicker at. But, as we all know, beer tastes better in "appropriate glassware." Cheers!

 

Last new beer for the day, I promise. Along the same lines, this one is again from @strohme2 and is the whole reason he sent me the box. It’s Bamburna a collab between Oskar blues and cigar city, two great breweries. However most times when two outstanding breweries do a collab it turns out lackluster. From the reviews I’ve read already this one seems to be the exception.



Appearance is pitch black with some gorgeous dark khaki head which hangs around and provides good lacing. The scent is intriguing. Sweetness blasts you in the face from the figs and dates. It almost smells like a chocolate covered fig Newton. There is a hint of the barrel underneath the sweetness from the dark fruits. Taste is exactly the same. Decadently sweet and appealingly so. Exactly like a chocolate covered dog newton. The slightest bit of barrel heat shows up in the finish, however that seems sweet too, I’m looking at you brandy. The mouthfeel is slick, oily, coating the mouth. Fuller than medium but not quite chewy. Overall this is outstanding. It’s very different from other stouts and I welcome that. Justin, you’ve blown me away again!

 

Not a new beer, but a glass I live to drink stouts in.

 

My second new beer of the day is The Hermit by Moonraker, which, in my opinion, rightfully sits in the upper echelon of Northern California’s IPA producers (their stouts and occasional pilsners are good too). Canned on 06/25/19.



Beautiful absolutely murky straw yellow body. Decent head formation on a non-aggressive pour. The cap sticks around too and leaves lots of lacing on the glass.

S: Notes of melon and orange, but this beer is not as aromatic as I expected it to be, especially considering that its big brother, The Holy Hermit, brings quite a strong smell, but the aroma is delightful.

T: Again, melon is the dominant flavor with some sweet citrusy notes on the back end. I will say that the taste here is pretty unique for a beer hopped with such common hops as Citra and Amarillo. Interestingly, again, it’s very different from The Holy Hermit. I’m having a bit of trouble accurately describing what I’m picking up, but it tastes “fresh” in some sense. There’s also a tiniest hint of bitterness on the back end. I’m enjoying this beer quite a bit

F: Light to medium body, no discernible alcohol, medium to light carbonation. Spot-on NEIPA feel.

O: Moonraker makes some killer IPAs, and I think this is yet another winner. Put simply, for single, it excels, and I would gladly keep drinking more and more of these.

4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.25 —> 4.29 BA rating (rDev +0.7%)

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Usual weekend for me, going to be a slow work week with a bunch of people taking vacation. My family is coming up next weekend to go to the Legoland/Aquarium in Auburn Hills with my Nephew. They are staying in a hotel, but my dad will be staying in my Apartment, so I need to get it cleaned up this week. I have a second bedroom, but it has all of my brewing/fermenting equipment, so I need to make space for an air mattress. Got a small beer haul yesterday and today, not much new. Had my #8700th yesterday. 9000 only a few months away. I will hit 10000 on untappd sooner than that, since I review Mead/Cider etc on there as well.

Beer:

Candy flavored Gose. This was excellent. Solid fluffy head retention, minimal lacing. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, raspberry, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, and grass; with some wheat, cracker, white bready malts; light peppercorn, sea salt, lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tang/tartness, and light spiciness on the finish. Medium-plus carbonation, light-medium body, and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced grainy wheat, lactic acid/tang, and light salinity in the mouthfeel. Moderate increasing tart/tangy dryness; zero pucker. Very flavorful/refreshing, not overly lactic, 4.2%. Feels like sour patch kids were used. Great balance of juicy candy and Lacto complexity; with a nice solid pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. Zero residual sweetness with crisp acidic/tangy candy drying. No complaints. 4


Cheers

 

NBS #2. This is Weapons Grade, a West Coast DIPA brewed by Defiant Brewing Co. in Rockland County, NY (just over the state line from New Jersey). I've heard of this brewery for a couple of years but when I'm in the area I always head to District 96 and Industrial Arts. I received a can of this from my non-BA beer buddy Bill (nice alliteration) who is less of a beer snob than I. But this isn't bad; in fact, it's pretty good. Sort of a poor man's Shape of Hops to Come, which is one of my favorite go-to's. There's very little fruit presence and the malt is a little sweeter than I prefer but the NW hops bite hard and it's potent at 9%. Because Defiant is in New York State, it can serve food (unlike New Jersey - thanks to the idiots in Trenton). It's known for its barbeque, with which Weapons Grade would pair really well. That's a combo I'd like - and will - try soon. Here's my review:

3.72/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Canned on 5/21/2019. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass. It pours a cloudy, bright orange-honey color with more than two fingers of fluffy, bright white head and thick laclng. There's not much on the nose except some sweet malt and spicy, floral hops. It's an old school West Coast IPA. The taste is malt-forward, opening sweetly but is quickly overwhelmed by bitter, biting hops (Zeus, Tomahawk, Magnum, and Warrior). It leaves a decidedly bitter after taste. The ale is creamy with moderate carbonation, and its 9% ABV gives it nice substance. If you like a traditional West Coast IPA that balances malts and bitter hops but is not fruity, then you'll like this offering. It would pair very well with barbeque particularly with a hot and tangy sauce.

 

Good afternoon!
As to the questions of the day:

When do I drink?
Generally by the time I get home I have about a half an hour to eat get the dog walked and fed and get myself settled in and in bed, so for that reason (and others) I very rarely drink on work days. On my long weekend, however, I often plan to have full days of drinking, but realistically by the time I get my other stuff out of the way and get around to figuring out what I really want to do I usually only have one or two. Game nights I'll usually have two, I guess it's really down to about ten a week or less. Huh.
As to by what means does that beverage go from repository to my face, I made myself a promise long ago that I don't buy glassware. Largely because I know about myself that I am a collector and that I have poor self control, so if I were to open that floodgate it would likely end up similarly to @jkblr and I've got a small apartment with too much stuff already!! My limited collection is primarily stuff people have given me through the NBS BIFs, with a couple of special items that were gifts from family or special event commemorative glasses. Utilizing that 'limited' roster I generally try and match styles with the closest 'suggested' type of glassware, but am not a stickler about it. Similarly to @MNAle I often find the biggest difference I experience is simply in aesthetic presentation (though to be fair, I haven't exactly run rigorous experimentation to determine whether different glasses affect taste/aroma/etc).

Anyway.

Todays beer is one that I picked up on a whim down at Uwajimaya that I thought would be an interesting if mildly gimmicky thing. To be completely honest it made me think of @CanConPhilly and his discussions of supertasting and finding lots of umami in various IPAs (as well as just kind of the wave of seeming savory food based IPAs y'all got going on out east... I don't get it.). As time has past and I've reached for it and put it back a couple of times I've actually read the text on the can a little more and realize they flavour it with fish flakes. I don't do well with seafood. To say nothing of just the idea of fish in an IPA in general. So I'm a bit wary. But I bought it so damn it I'm going to at least try



YOHO - Sorry
The pour is actually quite promising. Light golden yellow body with a good finger and a half of pearly white head that slowly works its way down leaving windowlacing a it goes. This lacing would not continue as I began drinking, however.

I mentioned the apprehension I had about this brew above. Sticking my nose in it was to be the first test. And I was blown away. Nary a fishy scent to be found, in fact it smelled of bright pleasing citrus with some grassy and floral notes lurking underneath. Maybe a thin whiff of tropical notes as well. Basically smells like what I think of an incredibly well done APA. Huh. OK, cool.

Well surely the hammer is coming on the tongue, though, right? Well, actually... While not quite as exciting as the nose, the flavour is in the same vein, and again is devoid of any of the umami/fishy character advertised that had me so anxious. Everything is toned down a little from the nose: the citrus isn't quite as bright, and the high notes of grassy/floral aren't quite as discernable, but it still stays firmly in that lane of pleasant APA (if a bit large for that designation at 6.5%). Finish tends towards a more earthy bitter palate that almost raises the hackles of warning for the umami, but never actually goes that direction.

Body is thin and spritzy with carbonation and is my biggest complaint.



This one was a big pleasant surprise. I was ready to seriously question my policy of not drainpouring things, but the reality proved to be far from that imagined hazard as this carried a pleasant 'large APA' character throughout.
Don't shy away if you see it but think the bonito flakes sound gross, but also don't get your hopes up if you are looking for something gimmicky or weird to challenge yourself.


Cheers all y'all

 

When do I drink? When it suits me & it makes sense.

Glassware? I am big on correct for style but not married to it. I usually try to travel with a sturdy Nonic Pint glass as they are utilitarian. However, I think hefe glasses work great for IPAs & big stouts. Now on to some beer:

3 Fonteinen Cuvee Armand & Gaston Guuze, 4.35 overall

Pours an effervescent gold/amber with 2 fingers of ivory colored head. Zero lacing & head retention

S: Orchard fruit, a touch of vinegar

T: Follows the nose with pears & Golden Delicious Apple with tartness & a little sourness up front. Tartness takes over as this warms, lemon & apples mostly. Finishes tart with lemons and just a touch apple sweetness

MF: Medium body, lively carbonation, enamel stripping stickyness

Classic take on the style, not an easy one to finish solo

 

Alright, switching gears from the saison to the Vic Secret single-hop DIPA. VS is absolutely one of the best hops of the modern generation... I love a lot of the Australian and New Zealand hop varietals that have popped up over the last couple years, but this one (and the similar Galaxy) really stands out to me with its strong elements of passion fruit, pine, pineapple, and other tropical fruits with a strong resinous undercurrent that gives it some similarities to Simcoe (in my opinion, anyway).



That pour is fucking gross, though, guys. It's like a weird pale oat-milk color with a slightly deeper hue. Super dense and creamy looking. Off-putting, actually. Nice fluffy head, though, and the lacing is really good. I'm conflicted, but I'm gonna just take a dive and see what this is about. For Vic Secret!

The nose is really great, luckily. It has the immense tropical and pine aromatics that I'm looking for with this hop. Just so green and layered with pine resin, passion fruit, overripe mango notes and juicy papaya. A bit herbal and raw/grassy with some backing notes of chive and spice. A LOT going on here. Super fun.

Creamy texture on the tongue with what seems to be a big oat/wheat presence... very grassy and pine-y with a lot of layered tropical fruit and even a touch of blood orange/pomelo... sweet and tangy citrus-like notes kind of clinging on the palate. That said, this is a bit too heavy-bodied for me, and it doesn't have the crispness and deftness on the palate that I'd really like it to. For those who like their DIPAs heavy and thick, this is a good choice. I can almost taste the plant matter from the hops on the back of my tongue after each sip. Not a bad thing, necessarily, as it lends some gravitas to the situation at hand ("look how fuckin' hoppy this thing is!") but it definitely should be noted.

 

Thank you, sir! Sucks that this old body has gotten slow at defending itself against foreign invasion. Thirty five years ago I wouldn't have given an infection like this another thought, might not even have treated it at all. Oh, well, as gramps always said, getting old sucks but sure beats the alternative.

Saw your review of Bamburana and glad to see we had equally excellent experiences, if also a bit different in the particulars. Cheers!

 

Via @beergoot . Unreadable can dating, but grabbed it from another review. I can see it says November at least. This was excellent. Solid head retention, minimal lacing. HUGE ON THE BRETT. Aromas and flavors of big tart/tangy lemon, lime, mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, blueberry, red/green apple, white grape/wine, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, and grass; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bread dough malts; light leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, woody, grassy bitterness; and peppery Brett, and Lacto tang/tartness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, light-medium body; and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced grainy malts, sticky hops, and lactic acid/Brett tang in the mouthfeel. Moderate increasing bitter/spicy/tart/tangy/carbonated dryness; zero pucker/astringent. Very smooth, pretty refreshing, mellowly lactic, zero warming 5.8%. Not sure why they are advertising this as a Brut IPA; clearly a sour IPA, but I am not complaining. Awesome balance between juicy/vibrant, lightly dank/earthy Mosaic hops, and Brett/bacteria complexity; with a great clean pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. Zero residual sweetness with crisp drying. Big fan. 3.97


Cheers

 

Sharing some Bullfrog Le Roar Grrrz Black Raspberry with my fiancé.

4.28/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 ml poured into a flute

A- A deep purple, almost black, with a two finger purple head.

S- Raspberries, sour, oak, mild funk.

T- Sour, raspberries, oak, touch of funk, mild sweetness.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- A very nice sour, fruit adds a great touch.

Cheers!

 

Can't post pix anymore, sorry. However, I am super digging this "Recurring Theme" by Honest Weight out of Orange, MA.

When it comes to all Belgian styles and wild/sour ales, I will hold fast to my tulips, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Mostly, I stay "traditional/correct" glassware for whatever style is before me but I won't deny a beer given to me in any other glassware, I just won't review it (mostly 9 times out 10-ish).

Here are my thoughts on "Recurring Theme" aka summary:

Appearance of semi-hazy golden yellow color with a little white foamy head sliding off nicely. Aromas of lemon peel and pulp with lemongrass, earthy hay, woody barrel, mild funk, peach skin and jolly rancher-ish sticky character. Flavors of sour to Bretty character with grassy spice and vinous qualities. It's got the feel of a medium bodied beer with a fine sipping quality about it due to some stickiness but acceptable, not cloying. Sticky vinous and woody finish. To me, it reads somewhat of a cross of a Belgian saison (or the substyle 'grissette' as the brewer says) and an American wild ale, still well worthy of having again.

Edit: almost forgot, beer drinking for me is occasions of holidays, celebrations of new beers (which can be quite often), hockey and baseball games and college football games. Also, post fishing and going to my local gun range beers.

 

I agree with much of your point. I just want to add that while one can argue how such things are aesthetically pleasing for a number of reasons, I think much of it has to do with cultural baggage and convention (but not in a bad way).